Multi container package and carrier

ABSTRACT

A package of a plurality of filled pouch-like containers with closed ends including corner portions of maintained integrity interfitted with corresponding apertures in sheet-like end support members which are interconnected by a strap portion providing a handle acting through the end support members and associated container corner portions for handling and transport of the containers in generally horizontal side-by-side relationship as a unit package.

United States Patent Olsen Oct. 21, 1975 [54] MULTI CONTAINER PACKAGEAND 2,070,414 2/1937 Snell 229/52 A CARRIER 2,514,858 7/1950 Gray294/872 2,669,351 2/1954 Carson et 211.. 206/526 Inventor: Robert olsen,Wheelmg, 2,745,545 /1956 Dunning 206/466 3,116,947 1 1964 B 224 P [73]Assigneez Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago, 3,297,220 141967 54/453,331,501 7/1967 Stewart, Jr 229/55 [22] Filed: May 3, 1973 PrimaryExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr, [2]] Appl' 357057 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Robert W. Beart; Edward [44] Published under the Trial VoluntaryProtest L. Benno Program on January 28, 1975 as document no. B 357,057-g 57 ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 206/427 2O6/199 2O6/428, A package of aplurality of filled pouch-like containers "5 329/52 294/872 with closedends including corner portions of main- [51] Int 2 BD25/22, B65D 4.tained integrity interfitted with corresponding aper- B65D /62 tures insheet-like end support members which are in- [58] Field of Search2O6/427 428 466 526 terconnected by a strap portion providing a handle206/199 R 45 26/52 A acting through theend support members and associ-29 4 ated container corner portions for handling and transport of thecontainers in generally horizontal side-by- [56] References Cited siderelationship as a unit package.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 2,030,996 2/1936Lustig 206/466 U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,913,738

US. Patent Oct. 21,- 1975 Sheet2bf2 3,913,738

Fig. 5

MULTI CONTAINER PACKAGE AND CARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONContainers of various types have been arranged in package form as, forexample, in so-called six-packs of cans or bottles held together by anapertured sheet of resilient and deformable plastic material with theplastic material around each aperture stretched to snugly engageassociated can bodies beneath the top heads, or the bottles beneath thecrimped caps, as the case may be. In such packages, the plastic sheetserves as the carrier for the package and finger holes or other handlemeans may be provided for handling and transport of the containers as aunit package from which one or more of the containers may be removed asdesired for consumption or other use depending upon the contents of thecontainers. There are also strap-like sling arrangements with aperturedends for association with packaged containers and for association witharticles of various types for carrying the same.

The present invention is concerned with the packaging and carrying ofplural pouch-like containers of the type having closed pillow-like endswith diametral corner portions preferably projecting outwardly from thecontainer body which may be cylindrical or also pillowlike. Thecontainers may be formed of flexible material, preferably a suitableplastic material, and the corner portions substantially maintain theirshape and integrity until the container is opened. In one type ofcontainer, the integrity of the corner portions is maintained byinternal pressure within the container as by the contents, such as beeror carbonated beverages, pressurizing the containers.

An object of the present invention is to package a plurality of suchcontainers by a carrier having end support members with paired recesseswedgingly receiving the corner portions at the ends of the containersfor supporting the same in position for handling and transport.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reliable and inexpensivecarrier from plastic sheet material with connected end sheet supportmembers apertured in pairs according to number of containers in thepackage with the projecting corner portions of pressurized pouch-likecontainers wedgingly received in the corresponding apertures for supportand transport.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a carrier with theapertures in the end supports shaped to firmly engage and hold thecorner portions of the pouches without damage to the body material ofthe pressurized pouches.

The above and other objects of the invention will, in part, be obviousand will be hereinafter more fully pointed out in the detail descriptionof the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of the carrier for the package;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a typical form of pouchlike container tomake up the package;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 2 but showing the containerat 180 rotation;

FIG. 4 is an end view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation ofa package of six pouches and associatedcarrier in position for storage and transport; and

FIG. 6 is an end view of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT With reference toFIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the carrier is shown as including acentral straplike handle portion 10 connected to enlarged end supportmembers l2, 14. The carrier is formed of sheet material and preferablyof resilient and deformable plastic material, such as a low densitypolyethylene material, although other materials of the desiredcharacteristics may be used. The end support members 12, 14 are in thesheet form and may be in various shapes and sizes depending on thenumber and shape of containers to be supported thereby. As illustrated,the end support sheets l2, 14 have the confronting edges inclined awayfrom each other and outwardly from the handle portion 10, and thelongitudinal edges are scalloped to provide outwardly projectingportions 16, 16a on the sheet 12 and 18, 18a on the sheet 14, and thefree terminal ends are cut away or recessed centrally Each of the sheetsupport members 12, 14 is provided with pairs of recess means in theform of apertures 20, 22 and 24, 26 for the sheet 12 and 28, 30 and 32,34 for the sheet 14. The several pairs of apertures, illustrated as sixin number for a six pack of containers, are arranged at opposite sidesof the longitudinal axis of the carrier and disposed at approximately 45thereto, more or less. The apertures 20, 24 in the sheet 12 are locatedin the area of the projecting side portions 16, 16a, respectively, andthe apertures 28, 32 in the sheet 14 are located in the area of theprojecting side portions 18, 18a, respectively. Each of the apertures isof tear drop shape with the apical ends 20a, 22a and 24a, 26a of thesheet 12 apertures, and the comparable ends 28a, 30a and 32a, 34a of thesheet 14 apertures pointing toward one another, thus leaving the nicelycurved portions 20b, 24b, 28b, 32b of the outer apertures facingoutwardly and the curved portions 22b, 26b, 30b, 34b of the innerapertures facing the center axis of the carrier.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the pouchlike container includes agenerally cylindrical body portion 36 (FIG. 4) terminating in closed endportions 38, 38a transversely sealed along top and botton edges 40, 40aprojecting beyond the body portion 36 and forming corner projections 42,42a and 44, 44a on the end portions 38, 38a, respectively. These cornerprojections extend beyond the body portion 36 and a paper overwrap 46around the body portion 36. This overwrap may carry suitable printing orthe like but may be omitted when such printing or the like is directlyapplied to the material, usually a flexible plastic material, of thecontainer body portion 36. While the overwrap may add some stiffness tothe pouch body 36, this is not essential with the type of pouch whichwill hold gas under pressure and thus maintain the integrity and desiredstiffness of the corner portions. Such pouches are particularly usefulin holding beer, carbonated beverages and the like providing internalpressure to pressurize the pouches with maintenance of the integrity ofthe corner projections which are utilized for holding the packages inthe carrier as will be pointed out below.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a six pack of thepouches 36 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in assembly with the carrier shownin FIG. 1. The pouches '36 with their overwraps 46 are arranged inhorizontal position and in pairs and with the corner projections anglesin accordance with the angular disposition of the correspondingapertures in the end sheet support members l2, 14. The distance betweenthe projecting corners 42, 42a and 44, 44a is slightly greater than thedistance between the rounded edges of a corresponding pair of apertures24, 26 and 32, 34 respectively, for example. While the integrity of thecorners is maintained, they can be deflected slightly to enter thecorrespond ing apertures and return to normal positions overlying thematerial of the end support members adjacent the rounded edges of theapertures therethrough for wedging engagement therewith. This wedgingengagement traps the pouches between the end support sheets now invertical position for handling and transport of the package and with theintermediate body portions of the pouches in firm surface contact withone another, both horizontally and vertically. The angular dispositionof the interengaged corner portions and apertures serves to distributethe weight of the individual pouches on the end support sheets with thelesser component being at the inner vertical row of apertures 22, 26 andwith perhaps a larger component being at the outer apertures 20. 24.Both series of apertures stabilize the pouches in packaged position andthe round edges of the apertures reduces any tendency to cut into orfracture the pouches in the region of the corner portions. These cornerportions may be stiffened in various ways for increased integrity, as byheat treatment, folding of the corners with extra layers of material forthis purpose and the like; as well as by substantially completelyfilling the pouches with liquids or pulverulent materials and snugclosing thereof to crowd such liquids or materials into the cornerportions in the filled container for the desired maintenance of thestiffintegrity thereof for interlocking with the apertures in the endsupport sheets, just as the gas pressure, when filled with beer orcarbonated beverages, serves to pressurize the pouches for this purpose.

i claim:

1. A package of filled and sealed pouch-like containers each with closedends presenting corner portions of maintained integrity and relativestiffness, and carrier means including a pair of end support membersconnected by a strap portion, and each end member having groups ofrecess means with the recess means of each group oriented in accordancewith the spacing arrangement of the corner portions of an adjacentcontainer in the package and wedgingly receiving and interlocking withadjacent corner portions trapping the containers in the package forhandling and transport.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier means is in theform of a sheet of plastic material providing the end members in sheetform which are apertured to provide the recess means with the aperturesoriented in accordance with the spacing arrangement of the cornerportions which project therethrough for the wedging and interlockingassociation.

3. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein the apertures are ofsubstantially teardrop configuration with the curved portions engagingthe cornerportions ofthe ends of the containers. 7

4. A package as claimed in claim 3, wherein the con tainers are disposedhorizontally in the package with a pair of end corner portions instraight line opposition and projecting beyond the body portions of thecon tainers and with the apertures of each group arranged incorresponding pairs.

5. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein the corner portions of thecontainers are disposed at an angle to the vertical center line of thepackage with the pairs of apertures correspondingly angled.

6. A carrier blank for supporting in package form a plurality of filledpouch-like containers each with closed ends having spaced projectingcorner portions,

and comprising a pair of end support portions con-. nected by a strapportion of a length permitting the end\ portions to be angled relativethereto for disposition across the ends of containers in package form,and

each end portion having groups of recess means with the recess means ofeach group oriented in accordance with the spacing of the cornerportions of an adjacent container in package form for wedginglyreceiving the adjacent corner portions for support of containers inpackaged assembly.

7. A carrier blank as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recess meanscomprise apertures through the end portions with the apertures of eachgroup arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the center line of theblank.

8. A carrier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the axis of each pair ofapertures is inclined relative to the center line of the blank.

9. A carrier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the aper-. tures are of teardrop configuration.

10. A carrier as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rounded ends of theapertures of each pair are at the outer ends of the axis thereof.

11. A package of plurality of filled and sealed pouchlike containers,each of said containershaving a gener-. ally cylindrically body portionand closed endseach of which presents a pair of opposed cornersprojecting radially outwardly of the body portion, said body portion andclosed ends of said containers being of substan:

tially maintained integrity and relative stiffness, and a nally of saidcontainers through said opposed corners. =l

1. A package of filled and sealed pouch-like containers each with closed ends presenting corner portions of maintained integrity and relative stiffness, and carrier means including a pair of end support members connected by a strap portion, and each end member having groups of recess means with the recess means of each group oriented in accordance with the spacing arrangement of the corner portions of an adjacent container in the package and wedgingly receiving and interlocking with adjacent corner portions trapping the containers in the package for handling and transport.
 2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier means is in the form of a sheet of plastic material providing the end members in sheet form which are apertured to provide the recess means with the apertures oriented in accordance with the spacing arrangement of the corner portions which project therethrough for the wedging and interlocking association.
 3. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein the apertures are of substantially tear drop configuration with the curved portions engaging the corner portions of the ends of the containers.
 4. A package as claimed in claim 3, wherein the containers are disposed horizontally in the package with a pair of end corner portions in straight line opposition and projecting beyond the body portions of the containers and with the apertures of each group arranged in corresponding pairs.
 5. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein the corner portions of the containers are disposed at an angle to the vertical center line of the package with the pairs of apertures correspondingly angled.
 6. A carrier blank for supporting in package form a plurality of filled pouch-like containers each with closed ends having spaced projecting corner portions, and comprising a pair of end support portions connected by a strap portion of a length permitting the end portions to be angled relative thereto for disposition across the ends of containers in package form, and each end portion having groups of recess means with the recess means of each group oriented in accordance with the spacing of the corner portions of an adjacent container in package form for wedgingly receiving the adjacent corner portions for support of containers in packaged assembly.
 7. A carrier blank as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recess means comprise apertures through the end portions with the apertures of each group arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the center line of the blank.
 8. A carrier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the axis of each pair of apertures is inclined relative to the center line of the blank.
 9. A carrier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the apertures are of tear drop configuration.
 10. A carrier as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rounded ends of the apertures of each pair are at the outer ends of the axis thereof.
 11. A package of plurality of filled and sealed pouch-like containers, each of said containers having a generally cylindrically body portion and closed ends each of which presents a pair of opposed corners projecting radially outwardly of the body portion, said body portion and closed ends of said containers being of substantially maintained integrity and relative stiffness, and a carrier formed from a sheet of unsupported resilient plastic material, said carrier comprising a central strap portion and end sections, each of said end sections having a plurality of spaced apart apertures, said containers being arranged in a longitudinal contiguous relationship of two vertical contiguous rows, and said end sections mounted over the closed ends of said containers with said spaced apart apertures engaging the opposed corners of said closed ends to urge said body portions of adjacent containers together along lines circumferentially displaced from lines drawn longitudinally of said containers through said opposed corners. 